1940 Map of Carquinez Strait

About this map

Carquinez Strait serves as the industrial and maritime artery of this landscape, connecting the waters of Suisun Bay to the Vallejo waterfront. The map captures a high-density transit corridor where the Southern Pacific and Sacramento Northern railroads converge near the water's edge. This 1940 revision, based on Air Corps photography, documents the region before the massive post-war suburban expansion. Maritime infrastructure is prominent, from the Toll Bridge Carquinez Bridge to the Benicia Auto Ferry route crossing toward Martinez. The land use is varied, showing the Benicia S R A Camp and Blue Rock Springs Park alongside industrial outposts like Port Costa, Crockett, and the petroleum-associated docks at Avon. Inland, the terrain rises sharply toward Sulphur Springs Mountain and Elkhorn Peak, contrasting with the intricate network of tidal channels like Suisun Slough and Montezuma Slough that define Joice Island and Grizzly Island.